Pad feeding, placing, and inserting mechanism for crown caps



Dec. 13, 1960 A. WEISENBURG PAD FEEDING, PLACING, AND INSERTING MECHANISM FOR CROWN CAPS Original Filed Aug. 9, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR ATTORNEYS Dec. 13, 1960 A. WEISENBURG PAD FEEDING, PLACING, AND INSERTING MECHANISM FOR CROWN CAPS Original Filed Aug. 9, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I r ununlrgvgnnnaaa R m m V m ATTORNEYS Dec. 13, 1960 WEISENBURG 2,964,005

PAD FEEDING, PLACING, AND INSERTING MECHANISM FOR CROWN CAPS Original Filed Aug. 9, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS Dec. 13, 1960 A. WEISENBURG 2,964,005

PAD FEEDING, PLACING, AND INSERTING MECHANISM FOR CROWN CAPS Original Filed Aug. 9, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 T o I 127 I 0 I 6 I 120 11.5

Q 1 v 1 I 117 131 r (9 "cfi INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States, Patent PAD FEEDING, PLACING, AND INSERTING MECHANISM FOR CROWN CAPS Andrew Weisenburg, Langhorne, Pa., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Original application Aug. 9, 1951, Ser. No. 241,048, now Patent No. 2,695,650, dated Nov. 30, 1954. Divided and this application Aug. 31, 1953, Ser. No. 377,293

8 Claims. (Cl. 113-80) In my copending application, Ser. No. 241,048, filed August 9, 1951, now Patent No. 2,695,650 there is shown a combination of units cooperating to feed crown caps in a straight line and at a continuous relatively high speed, and while the caps are moving to insert pads in the caps and secure them therein. One of these units is a mechanism for inserting pads in the caps.

The present application is directed to this pad inserting mechanism per se and its associated detector. This application is a division of said parent application referred to above.

An object of the invention is to provide a pad feeding and placing mechanism wherein the pads are taken one at a time from a stack by a reciprocating slide and placed in the pocket of a continuous rotating disc which moves in timing with the caps and places the pad over the cap in which the pad is to be inserted.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plunger moving in a vertical plane containing the line of feed of the caps and in timing with the movement of the pads and caps which plunger engages the pad and forces it from the placing disc into the cap and seats the pad against an adhesive in the cap.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a detector which contacts with the moving caps and when there is no cap to receive a pad the detector operates through the means for reciprocating the pad feeding slide to stop the same so that no pad is placed over the feed line unless there is a cap to receive the pad.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side View of a portion of the pad inserting machine and showing two of the improved pad feeding devices which operate to feed pads to alternate caps in the feed line;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the portion of the machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the pad feeding, placing and inserting device which takes a pad from a stack and places it over and forces it into a cap while moving along the feed line;

Figure 4 is a view in perspective showing the feed slide operating and controlling devices which take one pad at a time from the stack and place it in the transfer disc which in turn places the pad over the cap in the feed line;

Figure 5 is a peripheral view of a portion of the base plate of the pad feeding device and showing the cam which controls the operation of the plunger and forces the pads from the transfer device into the cap;

Figure 6 is a view partly in section and partly in perspective showing the guide rails and cover plates which support the caps and a portion of the feed shaft with the spiral rib thereon for feeding the caps along the guideways in which they are supported;

Figure 7 is a view in perspective showing a portion of the feed shaft, the transfer disc transferring a pad to a position over the feed shaft and also showing the relative position of the detector for rendering the feed of the pads inoperative when there is no cap to receive the pad;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional View through the pad transfer disc showing the shaft for operating the same and the housing for the disc;

Figure 9 is a view in perspective showing plungers for seating the pads in the caps and the operating mechanism therefor;

Figure 10 is a side view showing the plunger as it is released from the control cam therefor with the plunger in its lowermost position pressing the pad against the adhesive in the cap;

Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the rotating head which supports the plungers, the cover plate being detached from the body portion of the head;

Figure 12 is a perspective view showing a sliding block carrying one of the cylindrical plungers and the spring associated therewith, the spring being separated from the block for the sake of clearness, and

Figure 13 is a view in perspective showing the detector,

the control lever therefor and the switch which is closed by the detector when a cap passes beneath the same, and which permits the switch to open when there is no cap for the detector to contact.

In the present application there are shown two pad feeding and placing devices. They are identical in construction and function independently to place pads in alternate caps in a feed line. One of these pad feeding and placing devices will be illustrated and described in detail as the invention claimed herein is in the pad feeding and placing device and its associated detector mechanism per se regardless of whether the pad feeding device is used alone or with another of the same design. The pad inserting machine includes horizontally disposed supporting plates 11 and 12 extending from one end of the machine to the other. These plates are spaced from each other and the upper edge portions are chamfered to provide a guideway for the flange of the inverted cap.

In Figure 6 the caps are indicated at 16 and the pads at 60. The flanges 17 of the cap are disposed in the guide grooves 13, 13. There are cover plates 14 and 15 which retain the caps in the guideways. The caps are fed along the guideways by a shaft 18 having a spiral rib 19 of uniform helix angle so that the caps will be moved along the guideways at a continuous uniform rate of speed.

As shown in Figure 7 the cover plates 14 and 15 are cut away in the region where the pad applying mechanism is located. Mounted on the plates 11 and 12 and between the ends of the cover plates is a relatively thin plate 57 which is secured to the plate 11 and extends across the slot or space directly above the feed shaft. The pad feeding mechanism includes a base plate 57 which is secured to and supported by this plate 57 Mounted in bearings in this base plate is a vertically disposed shaft 61 (see Figure 8). This shaft carries a gear 117 (see Fig. 3) at the upper end thereof. Mounted on this shaft is a disc 62 having pad receiving pockets 63. This disc is mounted for continuous rotation directly above the plate 57 and is disposed in a recess 62 formed in the underside of the base plate 57.

Mounted in this base plate 57 is a magazine 59 in which the pads indicated at 60 are stacked one on another. These pads are preferably formed of granular cork and they are preformed and dimensioned for insertion in the crown cap so as to provide a sealing pad therefor. The pads are fed from the stack into the pockets of the disc 62 by a reciprocating slide 64. Attached to the base plate 57 is a bracket 65. The feed slide is provided with ribs 66 which engage suitable recesses in members 67, 67 mounted on said bracket 65. Beneath the slide is a head Ice Patented Dec. 13,- 1960.

- bracket 65.

68 which is provided with ribs 69 which move back and forth in guideways 70, 70 in the members carried by the The head 68 is provided with a slot 71. Extending across the slot is a pin 72. Beneath the bracket 65 is a depending bracket 73. A shaft 74 is mounted at one end in the bracket 73 and at its other end in a similar bracket 73 (see Fig. 2). The shaft has an upstanding arm 75 rigidly secured thereto. The upper end of the arm is forked at 76 and engages the pin 72. As the shaft 74 is oscillated the head 68 will move back and forth in the guideways 70, 70. The shaft 74 is oscillated by a depending forked arm 77 which engages a crank pin 78 eccentrically set on a sleeve 79 fixed to the shaft 80. As this shaft 80 rotates it will oscillate the shaft 74 and will move the head 68 back and forth in its guiding recesses.

Mounted on the head 68 or formed as a part thereof is a cross bar 81 (see Fig. 4). Attached to the outer end of the slide. 64 is a bracket 82. A latch 83 is mounted on a pivot pin 84 carried by the bracket 82. Attached to this latch is a laterally extending arm 85. The outer end 86 of the arm contacts with a cam plate 87 which is pivoted at 88 on a pivot pin carried by upstanding lugs on the bracket 89. This cam plate 87 has an opening there- 'rthrough at the free end thereof. A limiting bolt 90 extends through the opening and is threaded into the bracket 65. There is a spring 91 on this bolt which normally holds'the cam plate pressed upwardly against the head of the bolt. Inasmuch as the bolt passes freely through the cam plate, said cam plate may be moved downwardly on the bolt compressing the spring 91. This cam plate 87 on its upper face has two levels separated by an inclined portion 92.

Rigidly attached to the latch 83 is a flat arm 93. This flat arm extends through a vertically disposed plate 94 carried by the armature-95 of a solenoid 9.6. When the solenoid is energized it will pull the fiat arm 93 downwardly and this will move the arm 85 downwardly provided the end portion 86 of said arm is on the high level of the cam plate 87. This downward movementof the arm 93 forces the latch 83 downwardly so that the bar 81 .on the reciprocating head 68 will be engaged by the latch and move the slide outwardly away from the chute 59 when the head is moving on its outward stroke.

Assuming that the parts are positioned as shown in Figure 4 with the slide at the forward end of its stroke and that the solenoid is energized so that the latch is positioned so that the block 81 will engage the latch and retract the pad feeding slide. "This will draw the slide from underneath the stack and the stacked pads will move down onto the plate 57 On the next forward movement of the head 68 itzwillcontact the end 107 of the slide and move vit forward stripping the lowermost pad from the stack .and placing the same in the pocket 63 in thedisk' 62. The disk 62 rotates continuously in a clockwise direction .and will place the pads received 'inits pockets directly over the crown caps moved along the guideway by the rotating shaft 18 and the spiral ribcarried thereby.

As illustrated, the pad feeding mechanism; as described above, feeds pads over alternate caps. This is accomplished in the following manner. The shaft 61 operating the transfer disc 62 is geared to the shaft 80 ,(see Figure 3). Likewise the shaft 80 is geared to theshaft 88 The fgears driving the shaft 80 are dimensioned so that saideshaft is driven 'at one halfth speed of the feedshaft 18. The gears driving the shaft 61 are dimensioned so that said shaft is driven at one tenth the speed of the feed shaft '18. Referring to Figure 7 which shows the feed slide at the forward end of its stroke and in dotted lines a pad restingon the feed slide. We assume that the solenoid'is energized and the latch is in position to be engaged by the reciprocating {head 68' This head is timedfso that the slide is moved outward to receive a pad from the-stack on'onerotation of the feed shaftand moves inwardlyltoplacethe-pad in a pocket of'the' transfer disc;

adjacent ribs of the' feed shaft have been numbered 1' on another rotation of the feed shaft. The transfer disc is timed so that a pocket is positioned to receive a pad when the slide moves forward and while the slide is being retracted to receive another pad the transfer disc moves one-tenth of a revolution or one-half way between the pockets therein and while the slide is moving forward with the next pad the transfer disc will move another one-tenth of. the revolution bringing the next pocket into position to receive a pad. The distance between the pockets and the timing of the transfer disc is such that pads will be placed over alternate caps. The other pad feeding mechanism operates in the same way but is timed so h h s a wheeltwil pl c P ds e h e a n alternate caps. a

It is very desirable that no pad shall be placed over the space between convolutions of the feeding rib unless there is a cap to receive the pad. Associated with the cap feeding mechanism described'above in detail is a detector device illustrated in Figure 13. This detector device includes an arm 97 rigidly fixed to a shaft 98 supported by the brackets 99. On the outer end of this arm is a shoe 1-00 which extends down through a notched out portion 101 in the cover plate 14. The lower edge of the shoe contacts with the flange of the caps in the feed .line. If there is no cap then this shoe will move downwardly by its own weight. The shoe has a tapered end so that it will engage and move up onto the caps when a cap approaches the same. The shoe is of sufficient length so when there is a cap in each space between the ribs of the feed shaft the shoe will ride from one cap onto an- .other and this will hold the arm 97 raised. The shoe, however, is of the length so that if there is no cap present in one of the spaces between the ribs on the feed shaft the shoe will drop into the space and the arm 97 will be lowered.

Mounted on the shaft 98 is an arm 102. When the shoe is raised this arm is depressed and will engage an operating pin 103 of the micro switch 104. -When the switch is closed then the solenoid will be energized. This is accomplished by the lines 105 and 10.6 connecting the micro switch to the solenoid. When the solenoid is energized then the latch will be lowered so that itwill contact with the cross bar 81 and when the head 68 is moved outwardly the-slide will be withdrawn from beneath the stack, and on the forward movement of the head .the slide will be moved so as to carry the pad in front of the end of the slide into a pocket in the transferdisc.

Referring more .in detail to Figure'7, thespaces between to 8 and this would indicate the position of eight crown caps if the feed line is full. For example, :let us assume that the center of .one cap in the feed line to thecenter of the next cap is one and one-half inches and .the detector positioned so that it will operate upon the cap in position No. 1 andthiswill be ten and one-half inches from the point C where the pad is placed over the cap. The transfer disc is dimensioned so that a pocket A is .ten and onehalf inches from this .pointC measured on'the .pitch :line of the transfer disc. At the same time that the above parts are in the position shown a crown .cap inthe feed line is passed beneath the detector and the detectonraised which closes the switch, energizes the solenoid and thus lowers the latch so that .it engages the bar :81 on the reciprocating head. V

I For every revolution of the feed shaft which moves the cap forward one and one-half'inches the star wheel revolves one-tenth 'of a revolution which .also equals one and one-half inchesof movement on the pitch line and at the sarnetimefihe slidewill have moved through one-half .of its cycle from its forward position to its rearward position and a pad is dropped in front of the slide The next revolution of thefeed shaft movestlie cap forward another one and one-half;inches. The star wheel revolves another one-tenth of arevolution P t ons thejpoeket A in line with the feed slide which has moved forward and pushed the pad into the pocket A. It is obvious that six more revolutions of the feed slide and six-tenths further revolutions of the transfer disc will advance both cap and pad to the point C where the pad is directly over the cap ready for insert-ion into the cap. The slide makes a full cycle of movement for every other crown on the conveyor and is timed so that it will be at the forward end of its cycle when the detector foot 100 is over the crown in the spaces 1, 3, 5 and 7 and will be at the rear end of its stroke when the detector foot is over the crown in spaces 2, 4, 6 and 8. If there is no crown in the space 1 the foot will drop and the solenoid will be deenergized. The arm 86 at this time is over the high level of the cam lever 87 and the latch will be raised free of the reciprocating head and the slide will remain at the forward end of its stroke and no pad will be placed in the transfer disc. If there is a crown in the next following even space the solenoid will be energized but the reciprocating ledge will be at the rear end of its stroke and the slide at the forward end of its stroke or in an idle position.

If there is a crown in the next odd space the solenoid will remain energized and the latch, by reason of its tapered end will move over the bar 81 and be connected to the slide. If there are crowns at odd spaces and no crowns in the even spaces therebetween, the foot will drop into the even spaces and deenergize the solenoid but the slide at this time is at the rear end of its cycle and the arm 86 over the lower level of the cam lever 87 so that the latch will not be raised. The raising of the latch as it moves onto the upper level will not stop the slide as it is moved toward the forward end of its cycle by the bar 81 engaging the shoulder 107 and not by the latch which is only active to move the slide from its forward position to its rearward position. As long as there are crowns in the odd spaces the slide will be reciprocated and place pads in the star wheel which in turn will place a pad over each alternate cap. The crowns in the even spaces receive their pads from the second pad feeding mechanism.

There is a similar detecting device employed in connection with this second pad feeding mechanism and it operates in the same way as the one just described. This detector for the second pad feeding mechanism includes a shoe 108 (see Fig. 2). This shoe operates through a slot 108 in the plate 57*. The shoe is carried by an arm 109 mounted on a shaft pivotally supported on lugs 110. Directly above the arm 109 is a micro switch which is likewise mounted on a bracket carried by the base plate 57. This micro switch is connected through lines 112 with the solenoid associated with the second pad feeding mechanism. As has already been noted the two pad feeding mechanisms which place pads over alternate caps are identical in construction and function independently and further description thereof is not thought necessary.

Associated with each pad feeding mechanism is a device which engages the pad when it is placed over the cap and positively forces the pad down into the cap and seats it tightly against the adhesive within the cap. This seating mechanism is shown in Figures 9, and 12. Mounted in brackets 113 and 114 is a shaft 115. This shaft 115 carries a gear 116 which meshes with a bevelled gear 117 mounted on the upper end of the shaft 61. Carried at the end of this shaft 115 is a rotating head 118. This rotating head 118 has a vertically extending recess 120. A cover plate 121 is attached to the head. This head and cover plate is provided with an opening therethrough for the shaft 115 and the head is secured to the shaft by means of a set screw 122. Located in the recess 120 is a sliding block 123. This sliding block has a guiding portion 124 which extends through a slot 125 in the cover plate 121. The sliding block is provided with a stub shaft 125 on which is mounted a roller 126. Also attached to this block 123 is a cylindrical plunger 127. The sliding block just described is located at the upper end of the head 118 as viewed in Figure 9. At the lower end of the head is a similar sliding block having a guide member 128 carrying a roller 129 and a plunger 130. There is a spring 131 between the upper sliding block 123 and the shaft which normally holds the sliding block 123 moved radially outwardly on the head 118 until the guiding portion 124 of the block contacts the upper end of the slot. There is a similar spring 132 which engages the block carrying the guiding member 128 and plunger which normally holds the block moved radially outwardly until the guiding member 128 engages the end of the slot. Associated with these plungers is a stationary cam 133 (see Figures 5 and 10). This cam is mounted on the extension 134 of the base plate 57. The cam is located close to one side of the slot in the cover plates. The cam is so shaped and disposed that as the head 118 rotates, the rollers 126 and 129 will engage the cam in succession. The cam will force the block 123 upwardly toward the shaft 115 and when the rollers run on the end of the cam 133 the plunger will then be released and the spring will quickly force the plunger downwardly into engagement wth the pad and will positively force the pad into the crown beneath the same and against the adhesive face of the crown. The plunger moves in timing with the caps which are moving at a uniform speed.

There are two of these plungers which are diametrically opposed and timed so that one plunger operates on the pad placed over a cap and then the next plunger will operate on the pad placed over the alternately spaced cap. There is a similar pad seating device associated with the second pad feeding mechanism and, of course, the plungers are timed so as to seat the pads placed in the caps by this second pad feeding mechanism.

The operation of the pad feeding, placing and inserting machine will be obvious from the detailed description which has been given above. It is obvious that many changes maybe made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A pad inserting mechanism for caps comprising guides for supporting and guiding caps in a straight hne of travel, means for imparting a continuous uniform movement to the caps along said guides, a chute in which pads are stacked, a continuous rotating pocketed disc disposed between the chute and the feed line of the caps, a pad feeding slide for removing a pad from the stack and placing the same in a pocket in the disc, a rotating head continuously rotating in a vertical plane containing the feed line and in timing with the movement of the caps, a plunger carried by said rotating head and having a longitudinal axis lying in said vertical plane, said plunger being dis posed above the caps and adapted to remove a pad from said disc and seat the same in the moving cap in timed relation with the movement of the cap, a reciprocating head, a latch for connecting said head to said slide, a solenoid connected to said latch and operating when energized for holding said slide latched to said reciprocating head, means for releasing the latch when the solenoid is deenergized, a detector adapted to engage the passing caps in the feed line and a switch connected in circuit with said solenoid, said detector when in contact with a cap operating to close said switch.

2. A pad inserting mechanism for caps comprising guides for supporting and guiding caps in a straight line of travel, means for imparting a continuous uniform movement to the caps along said guides, a chute in which pads are stacked, a continuous rotating pocketed disc disposed between the chute and the feed line of the caps, a reciprocating pad feeding slide for removing a pad from the pad stack in the chute and placing the same in a pocket of said disc whereby said disc places the pad over a cap in the feed line, a plunger carrying head continuously rotating in a plane containing the line of feed and in timing with the movement of the caps, a plunger assess??? 7 moun d i i had fa l mite ad m vem n a prin t l ia sa pleas en ag d, a s e ar ied by s P un e a d a e sm on, c n id n in'the path of said rollen said earn being shaped so as to retract said plunger and release the for movement by said spring into contact with the pad for seating the same in the cap while it is moving,

3. A pad inserting mechanism for eaps comprising straight line guides for supporting and guiding caps in a straight line of travel, means for imparting continuous uniform movement to the caps along said straight line guides in uniform spaced relation, andtwo pad feeding units placed serially along the straight line of travel, and control devices therefor for feeding pads from one said unit into caps in alternate odd spaces along the straight line of travel and from the other of said units into caps in alternate even spaces along the straight line of travel, each said unit comprising a chute'in which pads, are stacked, a continuous rotating pocketed disc disposed between the chute and said straight feed line of the caps with its pocketed peripheral portion overlying said straight line guides, a reciprocating pad feeding slide for removing a pad from the pad stack in the particular chute and placing the same in a pocket of the associated continuously rotating disc whereby said disc places the pad over a cap in the feed line, and a continuously driven rotor rotating in a vertical plane containing the line of feed and disposed above said line of feed and having a plunger projecting radially therefrom in said line of feed, said disc, cap feed and rotor of each unit being timed so that the plunger removes the pad from a disc pocket and seats the pad in a cap being moved along the straight line of feed. i

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein there are included means for rendering the pad feeding slide of each unit inoperative to place a pad in a pocket of the associated disc when there will be no cap beneath said pocket to receive the disc.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein there are included means for rendering the pad feeding slide of each unit inoperative to place a pad in a pocket of the associated disc when there will be no cap beneath said pocket to receive the disc, each said last named means including a constantly reciprocated head, a latch movable into and out of position for connecting the slide for movement with said head, and mechanism for displacing the latch from its slide and head connecting position when there will be no cap to receive a pad.

6. A pad inserting mechanismtor caps comprising straight line guides for supporting and guiding caps in a straight line of travel, means for imparting a continuous uniform movement to the caps along said straight line guides a chute in which pads are stacked, a continuous r'otatingpocketed disc disposed between the chute and said stiaight feed line of the caps with its pocketed .pe'ripheral portion overlying said straight line guides, a rec procating pad feeding slide for removing a pad from the padstack in thechute and placingthe same in a pocket of said continuouslyro tating disc whereby said disc places the paid over a cap intl'ie feecl lineiand a continuously driven rotor rotating in a vertical plane containing the line of feed and disposed above said line of feed and having a plunger projecting radially therefrom in said line of feed, said disc, cap feed and rotor being timed so that the plungerremoves the pad from a disc pocket and seats the pad in a cap being moved along the straight line of feed.

7. A pad inserting mechanism for caps comprising. straight line guides for supporting and guiding caps in a straight line of travel, means for imparting a continuous uniform movement to the caps along said straight line guides, a chute in which pads are stacked, a continuous rotating-pocketed disc disposed between the chute and said straight feed line of the caps with its pocketed peripheral portion overlying said straight line guides, a reciprocating pad feeding slide for removing a'pad from the pad stack in the chute and placing the same in a pocket of said continuously rotating disc, whereby said disc places the pad over a cap inthe feed line, and a continuously driven rotor rotating in a yertical'plane containing the line of feed and disposed above said line of feed and having a plunger projecting radially therefrom in said line of feed, said disc, cap feed and rotor being timed so that the plunger removes the pad from a disc pocket and seats the pad in a cap being moved along the straight line of feed, and means for rendering said pad, feeding slide inoperative to place a pad in a disc pocket when there will be no cap'beneath said pocket to receive the same.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein the means for rendering the pad feeding slide inoperative to place a pad in a disc pocket when there will be no'cap beneath said pocket to receive same includes a constantly reciprocated head, a latch movable into and out of position for connecting the slide for movement with said head, and mechanism for displacing the latch from its slide and head connecting position when there .will be no cap .to receive a pad; i i

References Cited in the file of this patent u n... an, 

